Shortly after last season concluded, Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew made it clear he was unhappy with the play of the team's interior offensive linemen. To alleviate some of the issues, Detroit released starting guard Stephen Peterman, creating a job opening on the right side of the line.

The Lions have several options to fill the spot when the team opens the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8. The popular choice among fans figures to be rookie Larry Warford.

The Lions selected Warford early in the third round (No. 65) of the draft. At Kentucky, he earned first team All-SEC honors as a senior. In three seasons as a starting guard for the Wildcats, he registered 125 knockdowns and 36 touchdown-resulting blocks.

Warford also brings massive size to the table, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing more than 330 pounds. He's also in surprisingly good shape after revamping his diet and working out with former Pro Bowl guard LeCharles Bentley throughout the offseason.

Just don't expect the job to be handed to Warford. He'll have to outperform a pair of veterans and a relative unknown off the practice squad.

Dylan Gandy and Leroy Harris have a combined 14 years of experience. Gandy has been with the Lions since signing with the team in 2009. He started five games at right guard in his first year in Detroit, but has served as a backup and special teams contributor the past three seasons.

Harris spent his first six seasons with Tennessee before signing with the Lions in June. He's appeared in 75 games for the Titans, starting 42, but is coming off an ACL injury. He was unable to participate in minicamp and his status for training camp remains up in the air.

Both Gandy and Harris have experience playing center.

The dark horse in the competition is second-year pro Rodney Austin. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Elon University in 2012, he managed to stick on Detroit's practice squad for the full season. He does have two years of practice squad eligibility remaining, which could hurt his chances.

Despite not playing center in college, Austin has put in some work at the position for the Lions. Added versatility never hurts when fighting for a roster spot, but Lions coach Jim Schwartz commented this offseason that the team views Austin as a guard.

At 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, Austin isn't anywhere near as big as Warford, but holds a slight edge over Gandy and Harris, who are listed at 295 and 303 pounds.